GLENDA BYARS: Snake in restroom livens up birthday party

Friday

Sep 21, 2018 at 1:01 AM

I was there, I heard the word, but I guess that I somehow never expected to hear it at a birthday party.

The word was “snake” and soft-spoken John Miller said it!

Megan Gray moved closer to Tucker Weems, who pretended not to hear Megan’s cry (that sounded like the snake was in the room). Geraldine Weems did not hear John’s remark and kept on playing with Hersey, the pet dog.

Wendy Miller, John’s wife, explained: “It wasn’t in the office, it was in the restroom ...”

“A SNAKE! IN THE RESTROOM? WHERE?”

Geraldine grabbed her purse; Wendy realized too late her explanation was in vain. Everyone in the room, including Rod Weems, Christie Weems, Ryan Spurling, Sonny Taylor and I were laughing until John “comforted” everyone by saying, “It was just a rat snake ...”

Just a rat snake? The two words “rat and snake” were enough to start the squealing and laughing all over. No one will ever forget Christie’s 45th birthday party.

Potpourri

Antioch Baptist Church has a “Blessing Box” on its property on East Broad Street and invites all who feel led to donate nonperishable, easily opened items to this food closet. Thanks to Andrea Hare for the heads-up.

It’s the Show of Shows, the night of nights, when Randy Owen and his posse have the chance that every student dreams of — to actually give back to the institution who gave so much to him. It’s a personal triumph, a huge gesture in cold, hard cash just when Jacksonville State University needs it.

At 6 p.m. Sept. 26, the multi-award-winning band, Alabama, will headline a super-all-star-studded, once-in-a-lifetime show at Burgess-Snow Field for disaster relief after March’s tornado.

Alabama will be joined by the Charlie Daniels Band, Shenandoah, Riley Green, Darren Knight “Southern Momma” and others to be announced. Thanks, Alabama, for stepping up to the challenge, for all of the Jacksonville alumni who could not.

Goodbye, Nurse Delite Bridges Cruit. She was one of the best! A story that seems to tell it all comes from Jane Jones, who worked with her. In the waiting room, there was a light that came on when something serious was happening. However, there was no way for those weary watchers to know what was happening. Whenever the light came on, though, someone would say, “The light is on!” The watchers would be on point; there might be news of their loved one.

When Delite came on at shift change, the watchers felt relief because she was on. The light meant a special person was on the job. What a wonderful way to be remembered; how dear to be someone’s light in the darkness of uncertainty.

It’s still hot and muggy, even though calendar clearly says we’re closing in on the end of September. The storms have left a nagging ellipsis in our world — a kind of hush that longs for a roaring fire, the crackle of acorns and new fallen leaves, all ‘round town.

Glenda Byars is a correspondent for The Gadsden Times. Send submissions to glendabyars@comcast.net.

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